Analysis Mahmood irked by ‘last minute claims’ but few are able to get legal help

In a strongly worded response to a high court decision blocking the removal of an asylum seeker under the “one in, one out” scheme, Shabana Mahmood railed at “last-minute vexatious claims” and “migrants suddenly deciding that they are a modern slave on the eve of their removal”.

- Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

The justice secretary’s comments cast aspersions on the 25-year-old Eritrean in the individual case and asylum seekers more widely. But those who work in the system believe that they do not reflect the reality of the way - and pace at which - the justice system and the framework for identifying victims of modern slavery work.

The claimant only arrived on UK shores on 12 August and evidence shows that it can take a considerable amount of time for someone to be identified as a potential victim of modern slavery, get legal representation and gather evidence to support their claim.

On arrival in England and Wales, people can be referred to the national referral mechanism (NRM), which is the framework for identifying potential victims of modern slavery and is administered by the Home Office. This can be done by first responders, which includes some Home Office officials, the police, border force, local authorities and organisations such as the Salvation Army and the Refugee Council.